2024-2025 DEI Co-Chairs: Zahra Eslami (she/her) and Mansi M. Majeed (she/her) — Diversity {at} LWPTSA.net
About DEI at LWPTSA Council
The Lake Washington PTSA Council is committed to advocating for institutional and systemic changes that ensure equity, justice, respect and inclusion of all children. Council strives to be anti-discriminatory, inclusive and to welcome all voices. We are seeking to learn from our community, and grow as individuals and as an organization.
DEI Committee
LWPTSA Council facilitates the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee as an avenue to support and help educate DEI chairs and leaders at our 44 local PTAs and PTSAs within the Lake Washington School District. We embrace the overlapping aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion with all other areas that LWPTSA Council supports, including special education, legislative advocacy, sustainability, emergency preparedness and PTA/PTSA programming.
Learn more about Council’s Financial Equity Program
DEI Committee Meetings
Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee meets virtually via Zoom one Wednesday each month from October through May.
DEI chairs and other interested leaders from PTAs and PTSAs in the Lake Washington School District are invited to these monthly meetings to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion issues and advocacy initiatives that impact our students and families.
Dates and times are subject to change. Register below to receive the Zoom links.
| Date & Time | Topic | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 11:30 am — 12:30 pm | DE&I Overview and Discussion | Meeting slides (PDF) |
| Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 11:30 am — 12:30 pm | Every Child Belongs: Creating Inclusive Playgrounds Together with Na’eemah Webb & Pablo Ortega of LWSD Equity & Family Engagement | Meeting slides (PDF) |
| Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 11:30 am — 1 pm | Foundations of Social Justice: A Transformative DEI Workshop with Ilsa Govan, Social Justice Advocate and Author | Meeting recap Pre-Reading/Viewing: Dr. Caprice Hollins’ TEDx Talk: What White People Can Do to Move Race Conversations Forward and Social Justice Checklist for Schools (PDF) |
| Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 11:30 am — 1 pm | Breaking Barriers: Understanding Systemic Racism with Ilsa Govan, Social Justice Advocate and Author | Meeting recap Meeting slides (PDF) |
11:30 am — 1 pm POSTPONED DUE TO LWSD CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL | with Ilsa Govan, Social Justice Advocate and Author | |
| Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:30 am — 1 pm | Standing Strong for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging with Ilsa Govan, Social Justice Advocate and Author | Meeting recap Meeting slides (PDF) Handout (PDF) Video referenced in slides (YouTube) |
| Wednesday, April 2, 2025 11:30 am — 1 pm | Building Bridges Toward Belonging with Courtney Wooten, Equity & Cross-Cultural Inclusion Educator, Consultant and Activist | Meeting recap Meeting slides (PDF) |
| Wednesday, May 7, 2025 11:30 am — 1 pm |
Financial Equity Program
While all of our PTAs have a mission of supporting and enriching the educational opportunities and experiences in their communities, we recognize that there are varying levels of financial and volunteer resources accessible within those communities. As the larger community that encompasses all of the individual PTA communities, LWPTSA Council will work to facilitate the voluntary sharing of resources among local PTAs.
How to Give
PTAs can make any financial contribution their membership approves by Oct. 31.
Giving is voluntary. Individual donations are also welcome (they can’t be restricted to a specific school).
Please send your donations to:
LWPTSA Council 2.8
ATTN: Financial Equity Fund
PO Box 97039
Redmond WA 98073
How to Receive
Local PTAs can complete a grant application (DOCX or fillable PDF) to request funding for a specific item or experience. Submit completed applications to Diversity {at} LWPTSA.net. Funds should be utilized in the year they are given to the greatest extent possible.
If you need assistance completing the form, please email Diversity {at} LWPTSA.net.
Questions?
Please refer to this FAQ (PDF) for answers to many of the questions we have received so far regarding the Financial Equity Program. If you have additional questions after reading the FAQ, please email Diversity {at} LWPTSA.net.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Updates
- OSPI Responds to Latest Federal Compliance Request Tying Funding to Eliminating DE&I Programs
- Bridging Toward Belonging
- Executive Order Dismantling the US Department of Education: A Severe Threat to Public School Students and Families
- Building Bridges Toward Belonging – Join the Conversation!
- Standing Strong for Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Belonging
- National PTA’s Response to President Trump’s Address of March 4, 2025
- LWPTSA Council DEI Update: Understanding the Latest Federal Guidance
Local & Council PTA Resources
- LWPTSA Council Resource Guide for Heritage/Cultural/International Nights (PDF)
- Sample PTA DEI Plans: Example 1 | Example 2 (PDF)
- DEI Book List (PDF)
- Cultural Calendar With Related Book Recommendations (PDF)
National PTA Resources
- Building a More Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive PTA
- 2024-2025 Multicultural Calendar | Calendario Multicultural
- LGBTQ Community Inclusivity in PTA
- LGBTQ Glossary, 2020 (PDF)
- PTA Local Leader Guidance for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 2020 (PDF)
- How to Engage Underrepresented Groups
- Training: Turn Your Commitment to DEI Into Action (YouTube video)
- Learning Series: 10 Minutes to PTA the Transformative Way (YouTube videos)
National PTA Statements
National PTA Position Statements are official documents outlining the opinion, will or intent of the association and require national action to seek resolution on the issue.
- Say Their Names: Addressing Institutional or Systemic Racism (PDF)
- Inclusive Curricula in K-12 Education (PDF)
Questions? Please contact Diversity {at} LWPTSA.net.